IT took a while to figure out what was different about the guy in the Team US cap and tracksuit.

Then a light bulb switches on above your head: “No Swoosh”.

That’s what’s different about Tiger Woods this week. He isn’t a walking advert for Nike during the Ryder Cup.

But it’s not only one of the most recognisable corporate logos that Tiger loses during this biennial bash – he tends to lose a lot of golf matches as well.

One of the most single-minded, hard-nosed competitors in any sport has been unable to transfer his individual domination of golf – before his extra-curricular activities were exposed for the world to see at any rate – into the team version, although he insists it is not for the want of trying.

Woods admitted yesterday he feels a responsibility for the USA’s woeful recent record in the Ryder Cup which they’ve won just twice since 1995.

Their only triumph this century came at Valhalla four years ago and he missed it through injury.

But a resurgence in form has taken him back to No.2 in the world and once again he carries the hopes of his nation on his shoulders.

And this time he knows he has to improve on a record that reads played 29, won 13, lost 14 and halved 2 if the Americans are to yank back that little gold trophy they lost in Wales two years ago.

Asked if he bears any personal responsibility for the way these matches have so often turned out, Woods was nothing if not honest.

He said: “Certainly I am responsible for that because I didn’t earn the points I was put out there for.

“ I believe I was out there, what, in five sessions each time, and I didn’t go 5-0 on our side.

“So I certainly am a part of that and that’s part of being a team. I needed to go get points for my team and I didn’t do that.

“Hopefully I can do it this week and hopefully the other guys do the same and we can get this thing rolling.”

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Europe’s Graeme McDowell has a theory on why Woods hasn’t been as dominant in the team format as he is when playing for his own prize purse and the Northern Irishman believes it is because every single opponent raises their game when they are in his company.

McDowell said: “I kind of liken it to playing Premiership football. The biggest teams are Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal and when any lesser team comes to play these guys they have a tendency to raise their game.

“It’s the same for an underdog in golf to play Tiger Woods. They get up for it. They are not expected to win but when expectation levels drop their game tends to improve.

“I think a guy who plays Tiger, or a player of his calibre, doesn’t expect to win so he lets it all go and he plays out of his skin and gets the upset.

“Golf is a very individual sport. Tiger is perhaps the best player to ever play the game and what he does individually is so phenomenal that it would be very hard to emulate that here at the Ryder Cup.

“One thing I have learned is to win a point here at the Ryder Cup is so difficult. What with the quality of golf and the things that happen, you’ve just got to expect the unexpected this week.

“I think it’s very difficult to be critical of Tiger. It’s hard to win points, and like I say, guys raise their game for this thing.”

While Woods has learned to cope with being the biggest scalp a member of the European team can take, Rory McIlroy – the only player above him in the world rankings – is about to take on the same mantel.

USA captain Davis Love has already hinted the young Ulsterman will be targeted by the home team because any defeats he suffers will give a huge psychological boost to the hosts.

Woods understands that and sympathises with his young pal if he feels the pressure of the situation.

But he isn’t prepared to give him any advice on how to handle it. Not this week, not when they are on opposite sides of the fence.

He said: “It’s part of being ranked world No.1. It’s part of winning Major championships. You’re always going to want to try to take out their best player, that’s just part of the deal. That’s a fun challenge.

“I certainly have relished it over the years and I’m sure he’s going to relish it this week.

“But I’m not going to say anything to him – obviously he’s playing for the other team. We can talk about it afterwards.”

Sounds like Woods is ready to play hard ball. He remains the giant the Europeans have to fell if they are to retain the Ryder Cup.